Subaqueous-blasting system.



H. ALLISON.

lutvnted Sept. 1', 1917.

` 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 d. QM M M w. a f/d w w M i C. H. ALLISON.

SUBAQUEOUS BLASTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APILZ 19|?. 1 ,239,247. Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I Zwama/7 il Y Mare( f7. //Lf'a/g CHARLES H. `ALLISN,F GLENDALE, CALIFORIA.

sUBAQUEoUsfBLaSTING SYSTEM.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. ALLisoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing -at Glendale, in the county of'Los Angeles,

State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements inSubaqueous-Blasting Systems, of which the following is Ya speciication.

This invention relates to systems and devices particularlyl adapted forexplosive fwork under water; and tne invention has for its generalobject tti-.e

provision of an eilicient system of sub-aqueous blast-ing of any kind;and, particularly for blasting and other Aexplosive work in great depthsof water. I have developed my system and the component parts of itsapparatus with especial reference to blasting wells, where such workmust frequently be earried'on in very excessive depth of water,sometimes exceeding a mile; but it will be understood, from the natureof the devices themselves, and from the following specification, that myinvention, and this-system, are not limited to such specific use, andare not, in some cases, even limited to aqueous blasting.

In order lto make my invention most clearly apparent in all its scopeand detail, I may briefiy describe the method and system mostuniversally in previous use. For most kinds of workpf the characterherein indicated, it yhas become very usual and'prevalent to yuse arelatively insensitive explosive. For instance, gelatin has come intovery prevalent use, both 'on account of its great explosive strength andforce, and on account of its relative safety due to its in-`sensitiveness.'

But this insensitiveness, coupled also with a lack of self-detonation,hasmade it nec essary to use a very strong detonator to obtain theutmostefficientv from the gelatin; and has further necessitated the use ofdetonators at frequent intervals throughout the length of a charge ofgelatin in order to eilieient-ly detonate. the whole charge of gelatin.Such explosives as these are not good conductors of the explosive wave.In actual practice it has therefore become necessary to place detonatingcaps, or bundles of detonating caps, at frequent intervals throughout alarge or long charge of gelatin or similar explosive; in practice thesecaps, or bundles of caps, being placed from twenty to thirty inchesapart.

Then such insensitive explosives `are Specitcation of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 4, 19.17.

.Applicationl'led A-pri121, 1917. v` Serial No. 163,600.

Aplaced under great water pressure their insensitivencss andnon-conductiveness of the explosive wave increases as thepressuremcreases; and"consequently, at great depth under water, it isquite necessary to use very,` strong detonators at frequent intervalsthroughout the entire length of the charge in order to developthe maximof etliciency of the explosive charge. e I have substituted for theexplosive caps,

orthe bundles of caps, placed at intervals throughout the length Aof theexplosive charge, a continuous detonating fuse, of

Vthe type knownas Cordeau; being a fuselikebody comprising a tubecontaining a very strong explosive in which the detonationv travels withextreme rapidity and causes a very great explosive or detonatintteffect. 1I extend such a detonating fuse throughout the length of agelatin or other explosive charge;v and then, by detonating the fuse, I'cause almost instanta-y -neous ldetonation of the whole explosivecharge; and I cause thorough detonation of .the explosive charge at itshighest efficiency.

The meansand arrangements by which I cause detonation of the detonatingfuse is one of the elements of this system and of this invention. I havefound that such -a detonating fuse as .Cordeau will retain itsetliciency under great pressure provided the Water is not allowed accessto the interior of the tube to the explosive. The tubular container ofsuch a fuse is usually of lead or other soft met-al; and this tubularcontainer is therefore relatively` compressible Asuch a detonating fuseand close one end. vby sealing the tube; and then make arrangements ofan explosive cap or caps in such relative position tothe end of the fuseas to cause initial detonation of the fuse at that end; and I providemeans for waterproofing andfforprotecting the end of the fuse andthe-cap against." great pressure. Such means arel shown in my issuedLetters Patents Nos! 1.09-l,(92, April t28. 1914; 1,163,965, December14. 1915; and 1.215,329, February 13, '1917: and the waterproofing andpressure protective means herein described are dta'elopments.in'iprovcments and adaptations of said devices. Furthermore, Iprovidemeans for com'entrating the exby exterior pressure; but greatexterior presplosion, or the explosive wave' created by the cap, ontothe end of the detonat-ing fuse;

and I may also provide a second ,explosive cap to augment the explosiveand detonat-y in effect of the cap.

together' with the various details of-:structure and arrangement, andfurthervobjects and features of this invention are explained in thefollowing specification. In lthis specification I describe in'detail apreferred arrangement and combination of devicesfem` Vbodying my Yinvention and accomplishing the objects herein set forth; and for-thepurposes of this specicationI refertoV the accompanying drawingsin whichFigure 1V is a longitudinal central section vshowing a preferredVconstruction and I arrangement' of a completev blasting system ororganization,

according to myinvention; Fig. 2 is van enlarged central longitudinalsection illustrating' the connection of 'the` explosive capto thedetonating fuse; Fig. 3 is a similar section: showingfthe caps inelevation; Fig. 4 is 'a vertical section of a well casing showing mydevices in elevation therein.` Fig. -5

vis a cross-section takenv as indicated by line y5 5' on Fig. 1, andFig. 6 is a cross sect-ion taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig..y 2,

Referrin now more particularlyvto =the drawing: illustrate at 10 -(Fig.4) awell casing and show thegeneral relationof an vlexplosive chargethereto.V In actual practice, vin deep well work, the explosive chargeis put into long tubular cansll; and a single tubular can may hold thecomplete charge, or

a number of such cans `may be connected togetherend-'to end,'.forthepurpose of carryingv a heavy charge, `also for the -purposeofdistributing a charge over a great length of the well or casing. Il showsuch cans` as are generally used in Figs. 1 and 4. Thesev cans yarepreferably ,made of sheet iron pipe and arey provided with a conicalbottom cap `12 and `withfa suitable: suspension bail: 13, at

their upper ends. i Two or. more such cans may be connected together inthe manner best shown in detail in Fig. r1. A plurality `of wire loops14 may berused to connect r adjacent cans together; and short lengths ofpipe or tubing, shown at 15, may be usedto space the cans apart, so asto preclude `or minimize any tendency-of the cans to move relatively toeach other. ,v This `arrangement isof lparticular importancein `view 1of the fact t at ythe detonating fuse, which I extend in "a-singlelength vthroughout all of the interconnected cans,.is liable to bebroken if it is sharply bent, twisted, or turned at anyfpoint.v In orderto further minimize any `dificulties of thisvsort, I provide thedenotating fuse 16Jwith anaexpansion and i contraction coil 16a .at thepoint where it extends between adjacent connected cans. The bottom 12 ofone can may have a suitll of thesel foregoing indicated features,"

...The sealed end is shown at 32 in Fiir 2.

- i 1,239,242?.y l l fable opening 12'* therethrough to allow thefdetonating fuse passage;

Each can is filled with the explosive v.charge in any suitable manner,and the detonatingfuse 1G is placed centrally. lengthfwise'ofthe charge.For instance, 1n using gelatin, ,I- fill the `cans with cylindricalblocks or sticks of gelatin 20 cut to proper A size to it the can;l andeach block or stick of ygelatin is slit, as shown in., Fig. y5; so thatthe detonating, fuse 16 mayV extend lengthblock` of gelatin may-` haveva `larger sized opening 21l at its center to accommodatefvthe protectedcap and fuse connection device 22. This device 22 is preferably set downwithin the 1 top of the uppermost can'v and within -wise through theblocks. The vuppermost, v

the gelatin, so that it is heldin a relatively immovable position;andthe two line wires 23, v which lead out from the cap arrangement, arelashed or otherwise suitably se# cured, vas indicated `at 24, .tothecable, wire, or rope, or other vsuspension means 25, by meansv of whichvthe explosive charge is lowered into thev well. The line wires23extendup along the cable to thetop of the well. u l

.The extreme lower end ofthe detonating fuse l16 `is closed. This isaccomplished preferably by sealingthe end of the leaden .tube 30, aftera suitable amount of the explosive substance 31 has been melted out. Inmy preferred device I' provide, at tlie upper end vofthe detonatingfuse, a suitable shell 33`having a longitudinal bore 34; the part 34alof the bore being adapted'to receive the upper end of the detonatingfuse and to receive an ordinary explosive cap 35 and the upper part 34of the borev adaptedto receive an electric cap 36. ThisA electric ca`p36fits downinto the bore against the cap 35, with its upper end fittinginv an ,enlarged or recessed portion 34b ofthe bore, andthe upper 4endVof the capbeing preferably somewhat below the extreme upper end of the'bore. The exterior diameter of the detonating fuse (of the leaden tube30 and the exterior diameter of the shell 35 of the cap 35 are verynearlyvthe saine; and the upper `end part 30% of the leaden tube 30 yisscraped Hdown, or otherwise reduced in diameter, so

thatv it will fit into the open end of the cap ,shell 35a, with theexposed end of the de t- .I

konating material 31 directly against a small onating fuse is insertedin the cap shell 35a it is first dippedl in melted asphalt, tar or somesimilar substance, which substance then seals the end of the detonatingfuse into the open end of the shell; and when the shell arid thedetonating fuse are then inserted together in the bore 34 of theexterior shell 33, they are both dipped in the melted plastic sealinglsubstance and then inserted. The result is that both the cap 35 and theend of the detonating fuse are sealed into the exterior shell 33 by athin film or coating of the plastic substance, as shown at 40.; and theupper end of the detonating fuse is sealed into the open end of the capshell by a similar thin film or coating of the same substance as shownat 41. The film or coating 40 extends out to the outer-end of theexterior shall 33 and afterward unites with the final exterior coatingof the same substance which is applied to the exterior of the shell.

33. The same procedure is adopted with the electric cap 36; this capbeing dipped in the same substance and then inserted in the bore 34;being thus sealed in the bore, and completely surrounded, by a thin filmor coating of substance, as shown at 42. Any excess of the plasticsubstance on the cap 36 will be squeezed up and out into the enlargedportion 34b of the bore around the upper end of the cap and willsubsequently be united with the nal outer covering of the same substancewhich is applied to the shell 33, as hereinafter described. The linewires 23 are joined to the cap wires 43, as shown at 44, as closely aspracticable to the cap; so that these joints in the wires lie wellinside the final plastic covering which is given to the whole device 22.Each of the shells of caps 35 and 36 is preferably provided with anaperture 45 to allow access of the exterior pressureto the interior ofthe cap shells, through the medium of the plastic substance forming thecoatings 40 and 42. Although I have found that the protection given tothe caps by the general method herein employed is usually suflicientwithout providing the openings at 45; yet I have.

found that by providing the openings 45 and allowingthe exteriorpressure to be transmitted to the interiors of the caps, I am enabled tolower the caps to the greatest of distances beneath the water surfaceswithout the caps being deformed by the external pressure and withouttheir being prematurely exploded b v reason of such deformation or beingso deteriorated by such deformation that they cannot be properlyvexploded when so desired. The uniform pressure upon the material withinthe cap does not deteriorate it or prematurely explode it, or preventits being exploded when so desired; but deformation of the cap shell byreason of exterior pressure, without ka balancing interior pressure,causes such a are lowered to exceptionally extreme depths of Water.

The exterior shell 33 is preferably made of metal with sufiicientlystrong walls to withstand the exterior pressure and to withstand theinternal 'explosion of the caps and'of the part ofthe detonating fusecontained therein. It will be understood, however, that with theprovisions herein described, it is not necessary to provide the shell 33with strong walls in order to protect the caps and the upper end of thedetonating fuse from the external water pressure; with the means hereindescribed, it is only necessary to seal these parts from direct accessof water and to provide for an equalization of pressures as hereinstated. In this connection I refer particularly to my Letters Patentshereinbefore enumerated and referred to; wherein the general principlesof cap protection against moisture and against Water-.pressure are fullyset forth, applied to various circumstances, and the devices for suchapplications claimed. It will be noted that the present described deviceincludes and embodies certain principal features of the devicesdescribed and claimed in said Letters Patents; but embodies further thecertain combinations, organizations and improvements herein set forthfor adapting the arrangements to the particular purposes and to themajor combination herein described. One of the particular features ofthe shell 33 is that I preferably make it with sufficiently strong wallsto withstand internal explosion and'to vconsequently directA andconcentrate the explosion of the caps, or the explosive Wave created bythe caps, longitudinally onto the end of the detonating fuse. It will beseen that my arrangement comprises generally a means for positioning acap and the end of the fuse in juxtaposition and for causing efiicientinitiation of detonation in the fuse from the explosion of the cap. Theelectric cap 36 may be looked upon as the primary cause of thedetonation of the fuse; or the ordinary 'cap 35 may be looked upon asthe cause (the immediate cause) of the detonation of the fuse. I preferto describe the cap 35 as a booster in that it augments the explosiveaction of the cap 36 and causes a sure'and efficient.

initiation of denotation in the fuse. The position of the booster cap 35allows me to After the fuse .and the caps have been inserted in theshell 33, then an exterior coatalthough it may be so.

ing of the same plastic substance is aplied preferably Whlle warm enoughto be Eneaded, to the outside of the shell, the substance being forcedinto the open u per end of the shell 33 and being kneaded mtointimate-juncture with the coatings 40 and 42; being at the` same timekneaded closely around the detonating fuse 16 and around the line wires23, and the Wire joints 44 being covered and inclosed within thiscoating or covering. The endparts of this covering (the partsat'the endsof the shell 33)A may be lkneaded into place, and the complete coveringaround the whole length of the shell may be also put into place in thesame manner; or the relatively thin part 50 which surrounds thecylindrical surface of the shell may be formed by merely finally dip ingthe whole arrangement in liquid asphalt. In any case, the Wholearrangementis usually finally dipped in liquid `asphalt so as to form anexterior soft surface upon which a vtaping,\preferably of rubber, asshown at 51, may be immediately wound and held by the adhesiveness ofthe plastic substance.

'Ihis taping is put on` for the mechanical protection of e plasticsubstance from abrasion, etc. When I say plastic substance, I do notnece'arily mean a substance which is plastic at ordinary temperatures orpressures, For instance, the substance which I use yfor coating andsealing inthe caps and the fuse and for coating the whole device 22 isan asphalt or tar or the like, and this substance may be quite hard andbrittle at ordinary, temperatures or pressures; but it moves under highpressure. I do not conceive of my invention as being limited to theparticular and specific devices, etc., herein set forth, but as being ofa broad nature andcovering those general combinations of which thedescribed ldevices are indicative. I have consequently proceeded ytodescribe a'preferred form of system embodying my invention, not forthepurposes of limitation, but for the purposes of indicating andtypifying what forms my invention maytake. And the following claims aretherefore drawn to briefly cover the different main and subsidiarycombinations, parts and elements, herein set forth, both broadly andspecifically.

Having described a preferred lform of my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination with adetonating fuse, a

shell having a longitudinal bore adapted to receive one end of the fuse,the fuse being otherwise exterior of the shell, an explosive cap in theshell bore to initiate the detonation ofthe fuse, and a protectivecovering around the shell, the cap and said fuse end to protect themagainst water pressure.

2.' In a device of the character described,

in combinationy with-fa detonatin lfuse, a shell having'a longitudinalbore a apted to receive one end ofthe fuse, the fuse being otherwiseexterior of theshell, an ex losive4 cap in the shell bore Vto initiatethe etona.- tion of the fuse, and a protective covering of plasticwater-proof material surrounding the shell, the cap and the fuse end.

3. In a device of thecharacter described, in combination with adetonating fuse, a shell having a longitudinal bore extending from endto end and adapted at one end'to receive one end of the fuse, anelectric explosive cap in the bore with its firing wires extending outof the other end of the bore, and a protective covering of plasticwater-proof material surrounding` the shell and said fuse end andextending over the end of the cap andaround its firing wires.

4. In a device of the character described,

in combination withk a, detonating fuse a shell having la longitudinalbore extending from end to rend and adapted at one end to receive oneend of the fuse, the walls of the shell being of explosive' resistingstrength and the shell thus adapted tol concentratethe explosive wave ofthe cap y longitudinally onto the end of the detonating fuse, anelectric explosive cap in the bore with its firing wires extendingl outof the other end of the bore, and a protective covering of `plasticwater-proof material surrounding the shell and said fuse end andextending over the end of the cap and around its firing wires.

g 5. In a device of the character described, in combination with adetonating fuse, a shell having'a longitudinal bore adapted at one endto receive one end of the detonating fuse, an explosive cap in the bore,and a protective covering of plastic waterproof material around the endsof the shell and extending into the shell bore around the fuse end andaround the cap.

6. In a device of the character described,

in combination with a detonatin fuse, a shell having a longitudinal boreadapted at one end to receive one end of the detonating fuse, anexplosive cap in the bore, and a protective covering ofA plasticwaterproof material around the ends of the shell and extending into theshell bore around the fuse end and around the cap, the cap beingcomposed ofa capshell and contained explosive material, and the capshell having a perforation to allow access of exterior pressure to theinterior of the cap shell through the medium of the plastic material.

7. In a device of the character described,

in combination with a detonating fuse, a

in combination with a detonating fuse, a shell having a longitudinalfuse receiving a cap ,shell containing explosive materia the end of thedetonatlng fuse entering the open end of the cap shell and being inlongitudinal juxtaposition to the, explosive material therein, and anelectric capin the bore in longitudinal, juxtaposition to the firstlmentioned cap.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination with adetonating fuse, a

shell having a longitudinal fuse receiving i bore, an explosive cap inthe bore embodying a cap shell containing explosive material,-

the end of the detonating fuse entering the open end of the cap shelland being in longitudinal juxtaposition to the explosive materialtherein, an electric cap inthe bore in longitudinal juxtaposition to thefirst mentioned cap, and a protective `covering ofv Waterproof plasticmaterial over the ends of the first mentioned shell and extending intoits bore around the end lof the fuse and ,around the explosive caps,eachof the cap shells being perforated to allow access of exteriorpressure to the interiors of the caps through'the medium of the plasticmaterial. 10. In a device of the character described, in combinationwith a detonating fuse, a shell having a longitudinal bore extendingfrom end to end and adapted at one end to receive one end of thefuse,.the Walls of the shell being of explosion resisting strength, anopen ended explosive cap in the bore near the end receiving the fuse,the end of the fuse being entered into the open end of the cap and beingin juxtaposition to the explosive material thereof, an electric cap inthe other end of the shell bore in longitudinal juxtaposition to thefirst mentioned cap, the outer end of the electric cap being somewhatinside the end of the bore, line wires connected to the electric capfiring Wires close to the end of the bore, and a protective covering ofplastic waterproof material around the ends of the shell and around thewire connections and extending into the bore at both ends and extendingaround the caps and the end of the fuse.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination with adetonating fuse, a shell having a longitudinal bore extending from endto end and adapted at one end to receive one end of the fuse, the wallsof the shell being of e'xplosion resisting strength, an open endedexplosive cap in the bore near the end receiving the fuse, the end ofthe fuse being entered into Vtheopen end of the cap and being injuxtaposition to the explosive material thereof, an electric cap in theother end of the shell bore in longitudinal juxtaposition to the firstmentioned wires connected to the electric cap firing wires close to theend of the bore, and a protective'covering of plastic waterproof mavaround the caps and the end of the fuse,

each of the caps comprising a cap shell containing the explosivematerial, the cap shells being perforated to allow access of exteriorpressure to the cap interior through the medium of the plastic material.f

12. In a device of the character described, in combination with adetonating fuse, a shell having a longitudinal b'ore extending from endto end and adapted at one end to receive one end of the fuse, the Wallsof the shell being of explosion resisting strength, an open endedexplosive cap in the bore near the end receiving the fuse, the end ofthe fuse being entered into the open end of cap, the outer endvof theelectric cap beingl somewhat inside the end of they bore, line Wiresconnected to the electric cap firing wires close to the end of the bore,and a protective covering of plastic Waterproof material around theyends of the shell and around the wire connections and extending into thebore at both ends and extending` around the caps and the end of thefuse, each of the caps comprising a cap shell containing the explosivematerial, the cap shells being perforated to allow access of exteriorpressure to the cap interior through the medium of the plastic material;the plastic material superficially completely covering the firstmentioned shell; and a mechanically protective taping around the plasticcoating.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of adetonating fuse embodying a Waterproof tubular container and adetonating material therein, the tubular container being closed at oneend to prevent entry of Water, an explosive cap at the end of thedetonating fuse, and' a waterproofing covering surrounding the cap andthe adjacent end of the fuse.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of adetonating fuse embodying a Waterproof tubular container and adetonating material therein, the tubular container being closed at oneend to prevent entry of Water, an explosive cap aty the other end of thedetonating fuse, and a Waterproofing covering of plastic materialsurrounding the cap and the adjacent end of the fuse.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of adetonating fuse embodying a .waterproof tubular container and adetonating material therein, the tubular container being closed at oneend to prevent entry of Water, an explosive cap at the'other end of thedetonating fuse, a longitudinally bored shell receiving the cap and theadjacent end of the fuse to hold the cap and fuse in longitudinaljuxtaposition and to concentrate the explosion ofY the cap onto the endof the fuse, and a covering of plasticv waterproof material Aaround theshell, the` cap and the fuse end.

16. In a device of v he character described,

the combination of `a detonating fuse em bodying a Waterproof tubularcontainer and a detonating material therein, said container l beingcompressible by exterior pressure and closed at one end to prevententr)7 of Water,

a shell of relatively non-compressiblel material with rexplosionresisting Walls receiving 4the other end ofthe detonating fuse, a capin. the shell adjacent said end of the fuse, and a covering of plasticWaterproof Waterproof tubular container closed at oneend to prevententry of water, an explosive cap at the other end of the fuse, and apressure protective covering surrounding the cap and the adjacent end ofthe fuse.

19. An explosive device for ydeep Water Work embodying ill-combination abody of explosive unaffected by water pressure and unprotectedtherefrom, a detonating fuse,

extending through the body of explosive, an explosive' cap arranged atone Y end of the fuse, and means surrounding the cap and that end of thefuse to protect it from Water pressure. f

20. An explosive devicefor 4deep Water,

Work, embodying in combination a body of` explosive unaffected by Waterpressure and unprotected therefrom, a detonating fuse extending throughthe body. of explosive, andk i closed against water pressure at one end,an

explosive cap arranged at the otherfend of` thek fuse,'and meanssurrounding the cap and that end of the fuse to protect them againstWater pressure. Y Y

21. An explosive device for deep .Water- Work, embodying in combinationa body of explosive unaffected byY Water pressure, a detonating fuseextending through the body of 'explosive and closed against Water pres?sure at one end, an explosive cap at the other endof the fuse, and meanssurrounding the capvand that end of the fuse to protect them againstWater pressure. v

In Witness that I claim theforegoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 13thV day of April, 1917.

CHARLES H. ALLISON.

